But Seif insisted this was true love and no stage play. The pair are still good friends and have not lost the closeness they shared to the bitter pitfalls of celebrity divorce that plague so many, he says.

The wellbeing of their daughter, Dhahab, was put first, according to Seif.

A trip to see a shrink has led him to believe an early childhood trauma caused him to yearn for solitude. He will not remarry, he attests, as he is “not the marrying type”.

Do you sympathize with Seif? What do you think could be behind his 'early childhood trauma'? Tell us your thoughts.